The show right before Uncivilized Area hit the stores, with the band once again doing a "Funk Off" for an early copy. Good show as usual and some nice playing but overall doesn't stick out from the huge mountain of 1998 recordings.

So, the Disco Biscuits have never been one of my ultimate "top" bands, because they've become so one-dimensional these days that I just can't take whole-shows of them all that easily. Because with U-Melt and Phish, the musical variety is so vast even within each song, that you are always being presented with something fresh.

Yes, the Disco Biscuits are great at what they do now, but its become quite limited. Not with this show, though; this may be my very favorite Disco Biscuit show now, because the music here is so fluid, so fresh, playful, and they actually jam on the music, letting the composed sections take on a life of their own.

The beginning of the show is really cool, with the Uncivilized Area medley actually being very effective with the transitions between song segments.

The real butter here starts with Memphis; I've never heard them toy with this song so much before. They start the song, and it becomes like an early-90's Phish thing.... they are "jamming" with the composed parts, letting the written sections bloom into unique, one-time-only versions based on the little flourishes each member gives the music. Its so fucking cool.

And then the transition into Aceetobee...ugh. Man, this version is so great. I've never heard them toy with the tonality and modality of this song, and not just with the jam portions. The music actually takes direction.

You know how with a good Phish jam, Mike will introduce a new note, and the entire band will shift into a new blanket modality? They're doing that here; the music is changing. Its not just jamming on the main structure of each part. I didn't know the Disco Biscuits ever had this ability.

I'm not even finished with Aceetobee yet, but this ending jam is so freakin' uplifting, with Magner playing PIANOOO!!!!! Its so nice to hear him on the piano, finally. It gives the music such a great vibe and sound, it really is great.

If you guys are looking for an interesting twist on the Bisco sound, to see what they were like in the beginning, this is such a good show to explore. The music is so tight, but loose... playful and serious. Its moving, breathing, taking on different shapes, and not just straight groove-noodling over the jam parts. I really had no idea they ever played like this.

As great as the 12/27/04 Astronaut->Run Like Hell->Astronaut segment is for its weaving, bobbing, and emotionally dark undercurrent, this show really takes that morphing ability to the limits.

Plus, this is a GREAT fucking sounding aud tape. You can hear everyone, even Marc. Sammy's drums sound typical for a small-club aud tape, and the only detriment would be the lack of kick drum punch or its presence in the mix. But its an aud, and everything else is great. Definitely check this show out.